Clive's $4b Coast reveal

Mark Furler is APN Australian Regional Media’s group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 25 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include APN Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily.

CLIVE Palmer has detailed "jaw dropping" plans to spend up to $4 billion to create an international hotel, casino and tourism destination on the Sunshine Coast on a par with world-class facilities in Dubai.

The billionaire met Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson for almost three hours yesterday to reveal his plans which might include development of a chairlift or skylink to Mt Coolum.

Cr Jamieson revealed he had met Mr Palmer in response to a question at a Property Council luncheon yesterday. The Mayor told the luncheon it was a "very interesting discussion" but was coy on the details, saying they were confidential.

But Bill Schoch, general manager of the Palmer Coolum Resort, told the Daily the "multifaceted" plans involving a $3 billion to $4 billion investment would put the Sunshine Coast on the international map.

Mr Palmer wanted to "make a major destination of world-class significance" at Coolum similar to developments in Dubai.

"It is on a massive scale but it will all be done with local sensitivity," Mr Schoch said. "It is very exciting. When it is fully announced it will be jaw dropping."

The Daily understands Mr Palmer met the Mayor from 6.30am to 9.15am with Mr Palmer doing most of the talking.

Mr Schoch said it would be some months before the plans were made public because Mr Palmer wanted to ensure his plans were likely to be approved by various levels of government before he announced them.

"He does not like to announce things that are not going to work,'' he said.

"He is a man who does what he says.''

When asked whether the plans could include tourism facilities on Mt Coolum such as a chairlift or skylink, Mr Schoch said: "There are precedents for private facilities in national parks.''